Natural regenerator

Woody shrub or small tree to 5 m, evergreen, young branches pubescent, useful in revegetation. Produces canopy quickly which can be lifted by trimming the lower branches. Leaves ovate to lanceolate, to 8 cm long, strongly 3-veined from base, main veins usually hairy below; petiole 5-10 mm long. Resembles Chinese Elm, also in the Ulmaceae Elms, but does not have such coarsely crenate edges. Trema is finely crenate. Trema from Greek trema meaning perforation, aperture, or orifice, in reference to the pitted seed coat; tomentosa from Latin tomentose covered with short and curled or curved matted hairs in reference to the leaf surface. Very small greenish flowers and small black fruit. Leaves are reported to be toxic to cattle if they eat large quanities.. Many local birds eat the fruit. Host plant for the Speckled Line-blue butterfly so the leaves are eaten by its caterpillar.

Photo: Robert Whyte

Photo: Robert Whyte

Seed collecting and propagation

Fruit a small shiny black berry 5-6 mm wide. Ripe March to June. Sow fresh. No treatment required. Germination takes 20 to 32 weeks.

Photo: Robert Whyte